Believe it or not, the Avalanche has a team policy about assistant coaches: they can’t talk to the media about ongoing, current team concerns. And the team will not announce anything about them, transaction-wise. For instance, if an assistant coach isn’t coming back, they will not release that information publicly.

It’s one of their quirkier policies, but as long as I know the score, I’m OK with it. So what I believe to be the truth about the Avalanche’s assistant coaches, Sylvain Lefebvre and Adam Deadmarsh is: they’ll both be back under Joe Sacco.

There were rumors that Lefebvre might leave to coach the new Sherbrooke team in the QMJHL this coming season, but when I asked if there were any changes to the Avs’ assistant coaching spots – Lefebvre’s in particular – I was met with silence. Which means, from what I gather from that, he’s coming back.

I’m sorry, but I’m partial to both guys, being original Avs and all. So I’m happy about this news-non news.

I’m getting older, which means by definition I’m getting more sentimental. Those “good old days” of that first Avs season get sweeter and sweeter in my mind’s rewind of life. I mean, put yourself in my shoes for this one: you cover an NHL team in your first year, and it’s not only one that comes into a new city, but it wins a Stanley Cup – but better than that (for me, as an “objective” reporter) they were full of great guys and great players and great personalities.

Lefebvre was always very quiet and serious as a player. Very business-like, and he hasn’t changed. He is the prototypical family man, only caring about work and family, in reverse order. He and Uwe Krupp were a very good defensive pair. Lefebvre was the guy who stayed back all the time, while Krupp had a little more license to roam.

His career never was the same after he left for the New York Rangers as a free agent, but his bank book got a lot bigger, so good for him. But I always wish he’d stayed, just for his insightful analyses of the game. Unfortunately, I don’t get to talk to him much on the record anymore, but it’s always good to see him.

Deadmarsh? Everybody loves Deader. My very first, lasting memory of Deadmarsh was seeing him flip his floppy hair from one side to the other, as he boarded the team bus/plane on the Avalanche’s very first road trip ever – a preseason trip in 1995 that saw the team and media all travel together, from Denver to Cornwall, Ontario, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Ontario and Hartford Conn.
Deadmarsh had long, unruly hair and just continually flipped it from his right to left side.

He became a favored guy to talk to, not necessarily for the excitability of his words, but for his genuine passion for the game and keen insight. It’s always been a regret of mine and everyone else who has known him that the fates conspired to end his playing career early, but he still won a Cup here and had several good years. It could have been worse.

I’m sure most Avs fans will agree: it’s good to see them still around.